About those woolen gloves that US Senator Bernie Sanders wore in the presidential inauguration, generating infinite peculiar memes on social networks? They have helped raise $ 1.8 million over the past five days for charities in the home state of Sanders, Vermont, the independent senator announced on Wednesday.
The value comes from the sale of merchandise with the image of January 20 of him sitting with his arms and legs crossed, wearing his brown parka and recycled wool gloves.
Sanders put the first of the so-called “Chairman Sanders” products, including t-shirts, sweatshirts and stickers, on his website on Thursday night and the first run sold out in less than 30 minutes, he said. More merchandise was added over the weekend and sold out on Monday morning, he said.
“Jane and I were amazed at all the creativity shown by so many people in the past week, and we are happy to be able to use my fame on the internet to help the needy vermonters,” said Sanders in a written statement. “But even this amount of money is no substitute for Congressional action, and I will do everything I can in Washington to ensure that workers in Vermont and across the country receive the relief they need in the midst of the worst crisis we’ve faced since the Great Depression. ”
Sanders’ gloves were made by Jen Ellis, a Vermont elementary school teacher who runs a side business that makes recycled wool gloves. His inaugural look, also with the Burton Snowboards winter jacket, sparked countless memes in the photo taken by Agence France-Presse: The former presidential candidate could be found on social media taking a seat on the subway, on the moon and on the couch with the cast of “Friends”, among other creative locations.
Ellis said on social media over the weekend that Sanders called to tell her that “the glove frenzy” had raised a huge amount of money for charities in Vermont, although she was not authorized to disclose the amount yet.
“But it is BIG and it is incredible! Thanks!! Generosity brings joy, ”she tweeted.
She also said she made three more pairs of gloves and donated them to fundraising for Passion 4 Paws Vermont in Outright Vermont, and that she would auction a pair on eBay for her daughter’s college fund.
Groups that will benefit from “President Sanders” item revenues include aging agencies to fund Meals on Wheels in Vermont, Vermont community action agencies, Feeding Chittenden, Vermont Parent Network, The Chill Foundation, senior care centers in Vermont and Bistate Primary Care for improvements in dental care in the state, said Sanders’ office.
Sander’s clothes have also sparked other charitable ventures. A crochet doll from Sanders in his costume was auctioned online and Burton Snowboards donated 50 jackets to the Burlington Department for Children and Families on behalf of Sanders, his office said.
Getty Images will donate its profits as part of the licensing agreement to put the photo on T-shirts, sweatshirts and stickers for Meals on Wheels of America, Sanders’ office said. An email was sent to Getty requesting comments.